Overcast Skye: Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Denial

Driving along the dimly lit streets, the beach appeared at a distance. Skye drew slowly. She noticed his car and pulled over. She shook her head disappointed, Always on time during the early days of a relationship!

"Hey," greeted Cole cheerfully.

"Hey. Have you been waiting for long?" asked Skye.

"No. It's ok. You're worth the wait. You look lovely," smiled Cole.

"Thanks. You too," she replied hesitantly.

"I wanted to take you somewhere fancy. Are you sure you want to hang out here?" confirmed Cole.

"Yes. This is cool. I love long walks on the beach," replied Skye with eyes fixed on the waters.

"I know. That's how we met. Remember?" said Cole.

They smiled staring into each other's eyes.

"Shall we?" Skye started toward the beach.

"Yes please." Cole skipped after her.

Their steps were in sync. The beach looked deserted and eerie at first glance. The water sparkled in the moonlight.

"I must say, it's quite breathtaking down here, but aren't you scared a bit?" shrugged Cole unable to mask his apprehension.

"No. I'm not scared of anything. What's the worst that could happen?"said Skye nonchalantly.

He looked at her in disbelief as they walked.

"Someone could kidnap ME," he said jokingly.

Skye smiled, "We can go back if you want."

"I'm okay. I was kidding," he smirked.

"Good. Let me know when you need to rest," replied Skye.

They walked a few yards, and he said, "I have been thinking about you a lot."

"Hmm..." replied Skye trying to process that.

He didn't push her for a response. Suddenly his phone rang. He observed the screen, "I've got to take this."

"Sure." She walked a few steps further and waited for him. Her mind trailed back to the day they met. It was about a month ago. She was on the shore digging up wet sand for her tower. She was on all fours without a care in the world.

"Is it a castle in the making?" she heard a gentle boyish voice startling her.

She sat on her feet, and looked up.

He removed his sunglasses and greeted, "Hello!"

There he was tall, muscular, sporting Hawain shirt and jeans with a wistful smile. He looked like a man who is determined and knows what he is doing.

"Hi!" she replied.

"Do you mind if I stick around and help you in your venture?" offered Cole mockingly.

"No," she smiled.

"I'm Cole. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Skye."

"Sky? S-K-Y sky?"

"It's S-K-Y-E."

"Interesting. So, what are we building here today?" he inquired.

"A tower," she responded minimally.

He dug up some more sand. She doesn't recall anymore words after that until they built the tower and ended up exchanging numbers. She remembered how happy and deep his brown eyes were.

A whiff of wind brought her back to the present moment. She turned to see if he was still on his phone, but he wasn't there. She continued to look in that direction glancing up until the parking lot.

He leaned forward from behind her and whispered in her ears, "Thinking about me?"

She shrugged in surprise and embarrassment, "No."

He waited with eyes locked on hers and a mischievous grin.

"What?" she said with a tone of irritation.

He believed her. "Nothing. I'm sorry for sneaking up on you," he put his arm around her pulling her by her shoulder to console her.

She did not shake it off.

They started walking together slowly. The wind blew her hair in her face. He brushed it away gently gazing into her eyes, wishing he knew what was going on in her mind.

He switched sides with her with an arm around her - as though protecting her from the ocean wind ruffling her hair.

"This is nice. Cold, but nice," he heaved a sigh.

"Yes. Better than I had hoped," she replied with a smile. Sadly, it's always nice at this point.

As they walked, she looked up as if she was waiting for something to happen in the sky. He followed her gaze to the stars and then back at her. Her eyes were fixed. He watched their steps without interrupting her.

"Have you seen a shooting star?" she asked casually.

"No."

"Me neither," she said looking down.

"We'll see it someday, I promise!" he said confidently.

Right. Keeping promises and being honest are two things men are known for. She smiled in acknowledgment.

"How much farther? How about we sit here for a while?" suggested Cole.

"Sure," she agreed.

They sat on the sand facing the waves. She hugged her knees viewing the waves. Suddenly she remembered and turned to look at him, and it didn't take him more than a second to remember to put his arm back around her and move closer. She smiled and looked away at the waves.

"What else do you like besides the sea and the sky, Skye?" he asked.

"I like movies, tennis, sleeping, and...that's it I guess," she counted. "How about you?"

"I like football. I love fixing cars. That reminds me. You never asked me what I do," he wondered.

"What is it that you do, Mr. Cole Manning?" she asked playfully.

"I run a garage. I fix cars. It's my passion. I used to help my dad around as a kid, but I knew I liked it since day one: the heavy lifting, playing doctor to the cars, getting my hands dirty," he observed her reaction, "I mean it's fun. Isn't that what people say about making a profession of something that you enjoy, and... I'm my boss," he sniggered.

"Must be nice to do something you are so passionate about and being your own boss," she agreed.

"You can do things you are passionate about," he said motivating her.

"I wish. Do you build custom cars?" she sounded interested.

"Sometimes... if I get lucky. But it is a lot of work. My dad never undertook such assignments as long as he ran the garage. After he passed, I was open to more opportunities. It taught me a lot more than I expected," he pondered.

"Hmm..." she trailed off.

"Let's watch the stars. You never know when life would surprise us!" He suggested removing his jacket and spreading it out on the sand.

They lied down resting their head on the jacket and staring into the sky.

"Do you realize that a full moon is the worst time to stargaze?" she pointed out.

"No. Are you serious?" he asked.

"Yes." She smiled.

She took his hand in hers. Even in that moonlight, she could clearly see the scars from cuts and bruises from hard work. She felt respect for his passion toward his job. She looked at the sky knowing how thin her chances were of seeing a streak of light of a meteor through the light pollution of a bustling town and the bright moon.

He tried, but he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Have you..." he started.

"When you are with me, you don't have the fill the silences with words..." She paused, "...unless you learnt something interesting that you want to tell me about," she stared at him for a while before she looked away at the stars."

I can't help it. I've done too much talking for the day. She thought. I wish the girls had not planned lunch today. I would have had more energy and patience to act interested now.

"Sure," he obliged.

They stargazed in silence for a while.

"I'm parched," he interrupted.

"I forgot to carry water. Let's go back," she said rising to her feet.

They dusted off the sand and hurried back to his car.

He climbed in and drank water greedily.

"Did you get the burgers?" she reminded.

"Of course." He said flashing the burgers.

She got into his car, and they had burgers in silence. Her phone rang, she let it go to voice mail.

After she was done with the burger, she said, "It's late. I should get going now."

He nodded in agreement.

"Thanks for the burger... and the walk," she added.

He nodded again smiling with content.

"You are not going to talk?" she asked with a quizzical expression on her face.

"The last thing you said before I interrupted was to be quiet, so..." he replied.

She smiled, "Aww. I take that back. You can talk now."

He walked her to her car. They stood awkwardly for a brief moment.

She knew where this moment was leading to. Not today! "See you soon," she said getting into her car.

"See you," he said halfheartedly and went to his car.

She drove off into the darkness and she saw him in her side mirror driving off in the opposite direction.

Playing the radio and driving slow, she told herself, Snap out of it. Looked out the window, she observed the people she crossed. All were walking in pairs and groups. She looked at her watch hastily and drove further. Finally. She saw a thin man walking alone in a deserted street. She pulled over and rolled down the window, "Need a ride?"

He looked around and then at her, "Sure."

He opened the door, and just when he was about to enter. She stopped him abruptly, "Hold on. I'm...sorry. I realized I have to go back that way. Real sorry." She heaved the door shut, and drove away. Disgruntled, she hit the wheels, "Too soon!"

As soon as she reached home, she tossed the keys on a table. She foraged the cabinet and fridge. Ice cream. Yes. Watching her favorite show, she gobbled down an entire tub of ice cream. Before she went to bed, her phone chimed [Cole: U up?]. She didn't care.